Engine structure



June 22, 1943. s c. RAYBON 2,322,652

ENGINE STRUCTURE- Filed April 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 in loam z dzzeya ia 50 2 xx wwbzw June 22, 1943. s, c, RAYBON ENGINE STRUCTURE Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENGINE STRUCTURE Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet T5 Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINE STRUCTURE V Sidney C. Raybon, Pensacola, Fla.

Application April 14, 1942, Serial No. 438,942

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine and has relation more particularly to an engine of this kind of a multiple piston type, and it is a particular object of the invention to provide a structure embodying opposed pistons, together with means operated by said pistons, to attain effective operation of the drive shaft of the engine.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved internal combustion engine whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set, forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation with portions in plan of an engine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, with portions in elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 with portions in elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in top plan with portions in section of the engine structure as herein comprised.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 13 denotes the engine block formed to provide a series of opposed cylinders 2 with a space between each pair of aligned and opposed cylinders 2 constituting an explosion chamber 3. The cylinders 2 have their opposite ends open and working in each of the cylinders 2 for rectilinear movement are the pistons 4. The pistons 4 of each pair of aligned cylinders 2 at the limit of their inward movements extend slightly within the intermediate explosion chamber 3.

Operatively connected with the pistons 4 are the outwardly directed rods 5, the connection of each rod with its piston 4 being pivotal, as indicated at 6. To the outer end portion of each of the rods 5 is pivotally connected, as at I, an end portion of a rocker arm 8. This rocker arm 8, substantially midway its ends, is mounted for rocking or swinging movement, as at 9, upon the outer end portion an elongated rod l0. rod I0 extends inwardly below the adjacent cylinder 2 and has its inner end portion operatively This connected, as at I l with a crank l2 of the power or driving shaft D.

The end portion of the rocker arm 8 remote from the rod 5 is pivotally connected, as at M, with the outer end portion of a rod I5 which extends inwardly of the structure and through a tubular slide [6 snugly mounted for rectilinear movement within a sleeve I! mounted upon a base wall l3 comprised in the block B. The inner end portion of the rod I5 is pivotally mounted upon a cross-pin I9 carried by the inner end of the sleeve l6 and also pivotally engaged with this pin I9 is the end portion of a second rod 20 which extends out beyond the inner end of the sleeve l1 and is operatively engaged, as at 2|, with a crank 22 of a shaft S. This shaft S, as well as the shaft D, is operatively supported at each extremity by an end wall 23 comprised in the block structure.

The outer end portion of each .of the sleeves l! in its top is provided therealong with a slot 24 of desired length to allow the desired rocking of the adjacent arm 8 Without interference or obstruction, as this slot 24 is so positioned to permil; the lower portion of the adjacent arm 8 to readily ride or move therein.

The shafts D and S at one end of the block B and exteriorly thereof carry the meshing gears 25, whereby said shafts are caused to rotate in unison but in reverse direction but at the same axial speed. The throw of the cranks [2 of the shaft D and that of the cranks 22 of the shaft S are such as to so shift the mountings 9 for the rocker arms 8 to assure rotation of the shaft D, thus insuring a maximum of power being transmitted through such shaft D.

Each of the firing chambers 3 has in communication therewith and preferably through the upper portion of the block B a relatively large port 26 in which is snugly mounted a valve casing 21 through which the products of combustionpass to the exhaust 28. This casing 21 has its lower or open end formed to provide a valve seat 29 with which coacts from below a valve member 30. This valve member 30 is carried bythe lower portion of a tubular member 3| depending from the central portion of the top head 32 for the casing 21. The bore of this member 3| is continued through the head 32 of the casing 21 and through an upstanding tubular member 33. The members 3| and 33 coact to provide a fuel feed and the lower or discharge end of the member 3| is formed to provide a seat 34 with which coacts from below a valve 35. The upper portion of the member 33 has in communication therewith a supply line 36 leading the required source of fuel supply.

The valve 35 is carried by the lower end of a rod 3? extending axially through the members 3| and and up through and above a cap 38 closing the upper end of the member 33. The valve 35 is constantly urged towards its seat M by an expansible coil spring 39 surrounding the stem 3'! within the member 33 and interposed between a spider 4U intersecting the member 33 and a suitable stop 4! carried by the stem 3i at a desired distance above the spider 40.

Extending through the head 32 of the casing 2'5 at opposite sides of the member 33 are the lower end portions of the upstanding rods 42. The lower end portions of these rods are firmly engaged, as at 43, with the valve member 30. The upper portions of these rods 42 are freely disposed through an annular plate 44 surrounding the member 33 and which plate 44 has contact from below with the stop pins 45 or the like carried by the rods 42.; Surrounding the member 33 and the rods 42 is an expansible coil member 46 interposed between the head 32 of the valve casing 2'! and the plate 4.4, whereby the valve member 30 is constantly urged towards its seat 29.

Rotatably carried by the top portion of the block B is a cam shaft 41, one end portion of which carries a gear 48 meshing with a pinion e9 fixed to the shaft D. The gear 48 and pinion 49 are of such ratio as to assure the desired rotation of the shaft 4'! to cause the cams 50 to operate in desired timed sequence.

Contacting from above with each of the stems 37 is the end portion of a rocker tappet 5| suitably supported, as at 52, by a bracket 53 comprised in the structure of the block B. The pposite end portion of the tappet is operatively engaged from below by the upper end portion of a push rod 55 freely disposed through a guide sleeve 58 carried by the bracket 53. The lower end portion of this push rod 55 is engaged by a cam 59, whereby the valve 35 for its associated explosion chamber 3 is opened in desired timed sequence.

The upper ends of the rods 42 have in contact therewith the forked tappet arms 5'! carried by the rocker arm 53 also operatively supported by a bracket 53. The opposite end portion of this arm 58 is provided with the forked arms 59 with each of which is engaged from below a suitably supported pusher rod '60 operated in desired sequence by one of the cams 50 on the shaft 41, so that the valve member 30 will be moved into open position as required to allow for exhaust from within an adjacent eXplOsion chamber 3.

Extending within each of the explosion chambers 3 are the points 6| of an ignition plug =62 comprised in the required igniting systems.

The various movable parts of the engine structure have disposed thereover protecting hoods 63 which may be constructed as desired and maintained in position in any manner preferred. The bottom wall it of the block B is also formed to provide for the use of a conventional oil pan 64.

It is believed to be clearly apparent from the foregoing description of each of the valve structures that the fuel before entering an explosion chamber 3 will be effectively warmed or heated up by the exhaust, thus materially increasing the efficiency of the engine.

The pivot connection 9 between each of the rockerarms 5 and the associated rod Ill also pivotally connects these parts to the outer end portion of a tubular slide 65 having rectilinear movement within a sleeve bearing 66, thereby assuring the desired movement of each of the rocker arms 8 at its mounting 5] having a fixed line of travel as effected by the power or driving shaft D.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an internal combustion engine constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted. for use'by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising opposed cylinders having their opposite ends open, the inner ends of the cylinders having an explosion chamber interposed therebetween, pistons working the cylinders, rods for the pistons, a crank-shaft below the pistons, rods operatively engaged with the crank-shaft, said second-named rods being outwardly disposed, vertically disposed rocker arms, reciprocating members at opposite sides of the crankshaft, means for pivotally mounting the central portion of the rocker arms upon the outer ends of the second-named rods and to the reciprocating members, means for pivotally connecting the upper extremities of said rocker arms to the firstnamed rods, a second crank-shaft below the first crank-shaft, and rods operatively connected to said second-named crank-shaft and to the lower extremities of the rocker arms, the first-named crank-shaft constituting a power take-off shaft.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising opposed cylinders having their opposite ends open, the inner ends of the cylinders having an explosion chamber interposed therebetween, pistons working in the cylinders, rods for the pistons, a crank-shaft below the pistons, rods operatively engaged with the crank-shaft, said second-named rods being outwardly disposed, vertically disposed rocker arms, reciprocating members at opposite sides of the crank-shaft, means for pivotally mounting the central portion of the rocker arms upon the outer ends of the second-named rods and to the reciprocating members, means for pivotally connecting the upper extremities of said rockerfarms to the firstnamed rods, a second crank-shaft below the first crank-shaft, rods operatively connected to said second-named crank-shaft and to the lower extremities of the rocker arms, the first-named crank-shaft constituting a power take-off shaft, and means for operatively connecting both of the crank-shafts for unitary rotation.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising opposed cylinders having their opposite ends open, the inner ends of the cylinders having an explosion chamber interposed therebetween, pistons Working in the cylinders, rods for the pistons, a crank-shaft below the pistons, rods operatively engaged with the crank-shaft, said second-named rods being outwardly disposed, rocker arms, means for pivotally mounting the central portion of the rocker arms upon the outer ends of the second-named rods, means for pivotally connecting the extremities of said rocker arms to the first-named rods, a second crankshaft, opposed sleeves supported at opposite sides of the second-named crank-shaft and open at both ends, tubular slides mounted in the sleeves, rods o-peratively engaged with the second-named crank-shaft and pivotally engaged with the tubular slides, and rods pivotally engaged with the adjacent extremities of the rocker arms and extending inwardly of the tubular slides and pivotally connected therewith.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising opposed cylinders having their opposite ends open, the inner ends of the cylinders having an explosion chamber interposed therebetween, pistons working in the cylinders, rods for the pistons, a crank shaft below the pistons, rods operatively engaged with the crank-shaft, said second-named rods being outwardly disposed, rocker arms, means for pivotally mounting the central portion of the rocker arms upon the outer ends of the second-named rods, means for pivotally connecting the extremities of said rocker arms to the first-named rods, second crankshaft, opposed sleeves supported at opposite sides of the secondmamed crank-shaft and open at both ends, tubular slides mounted in the sleeves, rods o-peratively engaged with the second-named crank-shaft and pivotally engaged with the tubular slides, and rods pivotally engaged with the adjacent extremities of the rocker arms and extending inwardly of the tubular slides and pivotally connected therewith, the pivotal connection of the rods with each of the tubular slides constituting a pivot member common to both of such rods.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising opposed cylinders having their opposite ends open, the inner ends of the cylinders having an explosion chamber interposed therebetween, pistons working in the cylinders, rods for the pistons, a crank-shaft below the pistons, rods operatively engaged with the crank-shaft, said second-named rods being outwardly dispose rocker arms, means for pivotally mounting the central portion of the rocker arms upon the outer ends of the second-named rods, means for pivotally connecting the extremities of said rocker arms to the first-named rods, a second crankshaft, opposed sleeves supported at opposite sides of the second-named crank-shaft and open at both ends, tubular slides mounted in the sleeves, rods operatively engaged with the second-named crank-shaft and pivotally engaged with the tubular slides, and rods pivotally engaged with the adjacent extremities of the rocker arms and extending inwardly of the tubular slides and pivotally connected therewith, the walls of the sleeves being provided with longitudinally disposed slots in which work the adjacent end portions of the rocker arms.

6. An internal combustion engine comprising opposed cylinders having their opposite ends open, the inner ends of the cylinders having an explosion chamber interposed therebetween, pistons working in the cylinders, rods for the pistons, a crank-shaft below the pistons, rods operatively engaged with the crank-shaft, said second-named rods being operatively disposed, rocker arms, means for pivotally mounting the central portion of the rocker arms upon the outer ends of the second-named rods, means for pivotally connecting the extremities of said rocker arms to the first-named rods, a second crankshaft, rods operatively connected to said secondnamed crank-shaft and to the extremities of the rocker arms remote from the connection between said rocker arms and the first-named rods, the first-named crank-shaft constituting a power take-off shaft, and reciprocating means for guiding in a fixed line of travel the centrally mounted portion of each of the rocker arms.

SIDNEY C. RAYBON. 

